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Published on: December 31, 2017
Dental Caries Status, Socio-Economic, Behavioral and Biological Variables among 12-Year-Old Palestinian School
Unlabelled:
There are currently inadequate data regarding the prevalence of dental caries and its associated variables, among Palestinian children.
Aim:
To determine the current prevalence of dental caries and related variables, among Palestinian children in East Jerusalem.
Study Design:
A stratified sample of 286 East Jerusalem Palestinian children was selected, employing randomly chosen sixth grade clusters from three pre-selected socio-economic school groups. Dental caries was recorded according to WHO recommendations. Salivary flow, pH, buffer capacity and microbial parameters, were recorded according to previously employed methodologies.
Results:
The mean level of caries experience, by DMFT, was 1.98 ± 2.05. This level was higher than those found among Israeli children, but lower than several other Middle Eastern countries. In uni-variate analysis, significant associations were revealed between caries and school categories, which indicated lower, middle and higher socio-economic position(SEP), mothers' employment, home densities, dental visits, tooth brushing, Streptococci mutans (SM), Lactobacilli (LB), and saliva pH.
Conclusion:
According to a linear logistic regression model, children learning in lower SEP schools, with higher SM levels and more acidic saliva, had a higher chance of experiencing dental caries. These findings should be considered in the planning of services and dental health care programs for Palestinian children.
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